Corset



Aug. 22, 1933.

G. L. NICKERSON CORSET Filed Deo. 9, 1929 INVENTOR.

fiRmL/JJE L. NJDKERUN.

BY W W ATTORNEY.

Patentecl ug. 22, 1933 UNITED sTATEs CORSET Gertrude L. Nickerson,Milford, Conn., assignor to The La Resista Gorset Company, Bridgeport,Conn., a Corporation of Connecticut Application December 9, 1929. SerialNo. 412,788 2 olaims. (cl. 2-41) The present invention relates tocorsets and particularly an abdominal belt or support for surgical andmaternity use, an object of the invention being to provide a garment ofthis character which will provide proper support without constriction,and which will be hygienic, comfortable, light in weight, and adapted tochanges occurring in the condition of the wearer. It is also an obiectto provide a garment adapted for adjustment to fit individuals havingdifferent characteristics, and in which the requirements as to supportwill vary to a large extent. To this end it is particularly proposed toprovide an elastic foundation garment which will conform to the abdomen,and a supporting panel overlying the foundation garment to support theabdomen, and adjustably connected to the foundation garment, so that itmay be raised or lowered to provide either high or low support,depending upon the particular requirements and condition of the wearer.

With the above and other objects in view, an embodiment of the inventionis shown in the accompanying drawing, and this embodiment Will 25behereinafter more fully described with reference thereto and theinvention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the garment 30 asapplied to the wearer.

Fig. 2 is a similar view, and showing the supporting panel disconnectedand turned back to show the adjustable connection means provided.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the foundation r garment, the same beingflat.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation thereof.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the supporting panel.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawing.

Referring to the drawing, the corset or abdominal support, according tothe present embodiment of the invention, comprises a foundation garmentin the nature of an elastic and adl justable abdominal belt, and asubstantially nonelastic supporting panel, adjustably connected theretoin overlying relation to the abdominal region in such manner that it maybe adjusted to provide either high or low support. The foundationgarment consists of a non-elastic back having a central let-out pleat11, and provided at each side with spaced stays 12 and 13 arranged inslightly diagonal relation, so that they diverge from the upper to thelower ends. The stays have 'i steel or whale-bone inserts 14, secured inthe usual manner. Therside or hip portions each consist of a non-elasticsection 15 adjacent the outside stays 13, slightly diverging toward thelower end, an elastic yieldable section 16 secured at one edgeV to thesection 13, and a lower elastio yieldable band section 17, secured atits rearward edge to the stay 13 and secured at its upper edge to thelower edges of the Sections 15 and 16. The for- Ward edg'es of theSections 16 and 17 are secured to a Vertically disposed eyelet strip 18,having a series of lacing eyelets 19, and adjustably connected by alacing string 20 to an eyelet strip 21 having eyelets 22. The two eyeletstrips are connected at the inner side by a folded let-out pleat section23.

The eyelet strip 21 at one side is connected to a non-elastic Verticalsection 24, which in turn is connected to one Vertical edge of theelastic yieldable abdominal front section 25, the eyelet strip 21 at theother side being connected to a non-elastic Vertical section 26,provided at its inner edge with a series of eyes 27, to which the otherVertical edge of the front section 25 is adapted to be secured by aseries of hooks 28, as clearly indicated in Fig. 3.

A Vertical non-elastic reinforcing strip 29 is secured centrally of thefront section and is provided at one point with a snap fastener head 30,to which the abdominal supporting panel section is adapted to be securedin vertically adjusted relation, as will hereinafter more fully appear.The lower edge of the front section 25 is curved downwardly andreinforced by elastic strips 31. The construction is such that thesection 25 will comfortably conform to the abdomen, and at the same timewill not stretch out of shape.

Near the upper end of each of the back stays 13 there is secured adiagonally disposed tape 32 adapted to extend forwardly about the hipsections to adjustably support the ends of the abdominal supportingpanel section presently to be more fully referred to. Hose supporters 33are secured to the lower ends of the stays 13 and the eyelet strips 18.

The abdominal supporting panel 34 is of nonelastic material, except foran elastic gusset insert 35 of triangular form provided centrally in itslower portion. The panel is relatively wide at its central portion andconverges toward each end, the upper edge extending downwardly at eachside of the center at an inclined angle, and the lower edge extendingupwardly at each side of the gusset insert 35 at a somewhat greaterinclined angle than the upper edge. A Vertical reno. i

inforcing strip 36 is secured centrally of the panel, and at its innerside is provided with a series of spaced snap-fastener sockets 37, asclearly shown in Fig. 2, and which are adapted to be secured to thesnap-fastener head 30 to vertically adjust the relation of the panelover the front section 25 of the belt. At each end of the panel buckles38 are secured by tapes 39, and theseare adapted to be adjustablyengaged by the tape supports 32 to support the panel about the hips fromthe back section. Hose supporters 40 are secured to the lower edge ofthe panel at each side of the elastic gusset insert.

In its adjusted position upon the Wearer the panel will conform to theabdominal shape and provide a proper and comfortable support withoutconstriction or injurious pressure. The nonelastic nature of the paneland its complete adjustment provides the correct support againstprolapsus under any individual condition, and permits the elasticabdominal belt to be worn without excess or misdirected pressure, suchas is apt 'to occur Where the elastic belt alone is de-- pended upon forsupport. The Vertical adjustment of the panel provides proper supportunder widely varying conditions, Where the individual need requireseither high, low or intermediate support.

Where I have referred to non-elastic material, I preferably employordinary Woven fabric, as linen, and where I refer to elastic material Ipreferably employ vvoven elastic Webbing.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodimentof the invention, but it will be obvious 'that changes may be madetherein, within the spirit and scope thereOf, as defined in the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:-

1. In a maternity Gorset, a generally nonelastic back section and agenerally elastic abdominal section connected theretc and arranged -todirectly engage the abdomen to provide primary support there'for, aremovable and generally non-elastic panel section exteriorly overlyingsaid abdominal section for controlling pressure lapplied to saidabdominal section from the abdomen, and adjustable non-elasticsuspension means connected to the non-elastic back section for the panelsection.

2. The invention claimed in claim 1, further characterized by means foradjustably connecting said panel section to said abdorninal section in aplurality of positions along substantially the entire Vertical extent ofthe abdominal section.

GERTRUDE L. NICKERSON.

